8:05 PM,
Apr. 8, 2013

Rep. William Friend, R-Macy.

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A bill aimed at shielding farms and industry from unauthorized videos and photographs was watered down considerably Monday by an Indiana House committee that shifted the focus to limiting trespassing.

Senate Bill 373 has drawn national attention, with corporate farms and industries saying it is needed to protect them from defamatory videos that unfairly hurt their businesses. But animal rights groups, labor unions and representatives for the news media have argued that it would instead block the public from learning about abusive practices.